Poison Hearts

by Brenda Thomas; Shirley Dicks

  "Hot chocolate sounds great," Christina replied feeling a bit sorry for her younger sister. Did I hear you go out a while ago?

  “Just went to the store for cigarettes, that’s all,” Maureen said.

  "How about you, Andrew?" she asked as her eyes moved upward to his broad chest.

  "Nothing right now, thank you."

  Moments later she returned with Christina's hot chocolate. "Want to build a snowman?" she asked playfully as she looked up at her big sister.

  "Sounds like fun," Rusty answered as he stuck his head in the doorway, his mouth quirked with humor. For some reason he found her displeasure amusing.

  "You two go ahead," Christina announced as she continued to stare out the window. "I'm going to send Lauren home before it gets to bad out there. Maybe we'll join you later."

  Maureen was caught off guard by this unpredictable man. Her coolness was evidence that she was not amused. "Alright Mr. Hot Shot, let's see who can make the best snowman the fastest." From lowered lids she shot a commanding look at him.

  "You’re on," he replied already pulling on his parker and boots.

  The air was crisp and cold as they each began making their snowman. Maureen couldn't resist making a snowball and aimed it right at Rusty's forehead.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you," the warmth of his smile echoed in his voice.

  The beginning of a smile tipped the corner of her mouth as she let the snowball fly through the air and laughed as it landed directly on top of his head. She was unaware of the captivating picture she made when she smiled. He walked up to her with a grin of amusement on his face. Suddenly he grabbed her, threw her down and began rolling her like a snowball despite her squealing pleas. Maureen managed to pull him down and they rolled together, laughing frantically. She had to admit she hadn't had this much fun in ages and it felt good to laugh again.

  "OK, had enough?" he laughed, his eyes stared deeply into hers, as if he could see into her soul. She felt a strange sensation, and her pulse began to race as he took her hand and helped her up. There was a spark of some indefinable emotion in her eyes. And for a brief moment she dreamed of being crushed within his embrace, but she was not about to let him into her heart.

  They stood side by side brushing off the snow that had enveloped their bodies.

  "Let's get something warm to drink, I'm freezing," Maureen announced aware of the slender delicate bond beginning to form between them. His smile brought an immediate softening to his features. Tenderly his eyes melted into hers and Maureen had to turn away. "Race you to the house," she exclaimed getting a head start. Just as she reached the door, Rusty caught up with her and grabbed her shoulders. He turned her to face him and put his lips down hard on hers. She felt herself giving in to the emotions and kissed him as hard as he was kissing her. Shaken when it was over, she pulled away.

  “Why did you do that?” she demanded.

  “You looked so beautiful I couldn’t resist.” He laughed at the look on her face.

  “Oh,” was all she could manage.

  She opened the door without a word and went inside. They shook the snow off their coats in the hallway then hurriedly pulled off their boots.

  "If you'll check the fireplace I'll get the hot chocolate," she smiled at Rusty as she headed for the kitchen.

  "Looks like you two had a good time," Andrew implied looking at the smile on Rusty's face. "But I didn't see a snowman anywhere out there."

  Rusty laughed. "We made a human snowman," he replied as he headed towards the den to get warm.

  Moments later Maureen was back with hot chocolate and some danish. "It feels good in here," she said as she sat down on the sofa close to the fireplace. She flipped on the stereo in time to catch the weather bulletin.

  "Looks like we’re in for quite a bit of snow folks. The national weather system is calling for up to two feet of snow before we see any let up. We'll keep you posted as conditions warrant," the radio announcer blared.

  "Damn," said Maureen. "That means we won't be able to go to the governor Christmas ball. There goes my chance of meeting a wealthy bachelor."

  "Lighten up for heaven's sake.” Rusty said, looking at Maureen. “There are more important things in life than money you know,"

  "Yeah like what?" she stood with both hands on her hips.

  "Like this," he gathered her into his arms, his mouth covered hers hungrily. His kiss sent new spirals of ecstasy through her as for a brief moment her own body yielded to his demand. The blood pounded in her brain, leapt from her heart and made her knees tremble. Her feelings for him had nothing to do with reason as she found herself entirely caught up with mixed emotions.

  Maureen felt like a breathless girl of eighteen as she struggled to pull free from his embrace. She felt the sexual magnetism that made him so self-confident, and was uncomfortable with the fact that he'd spoken the truth, yet she wouldn't admit that to him or anyone else.

  "Stop," she whispered as she tried to regain her composure. She thought she detected a flicker in his intense eyes. He projected an energy and power that undeniably attracted her as he released her arms slowly and moved away. There was defiance in her tone as well as a subtle challenge. She drew a deep breath and forbade herself to tremble.

  "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. Believe me it won't happen again," Rusty said. There were so many more beautiful women out there but for some reason, he felt himself being drawn to this one. There was a burning silence as neither of them spoke, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

  Maureen hesitated, torn by conflicting emotions. She didn't like the way his kiss made her feel. Some of her anger evaporated, leaving only confusion. There was only one man that ever made her feel like this and he was gone now. They both sat quietly for a moment. She felt herself blushing and hoped that he hadn’t noticed. Her heart pounded with a heavy thud, as wild horses stampeding in the wind. She could not let him know how his kiss had affected her.

  Just then Christina popped into the room. "Hey guys, want to play a game of monopoly?" Christina asked interrupting their thoughts.

  "No thanks," Maureen replied sharply. "I'm going up to my room for a while. I’ve got a headache. Think I’ll go lay down and see if I can’t get rid of it."

  Christina looked at Rusty who was sitting there gazing into the fireplace oblivious to the world. "Did I interrupt something?" she asked sincerely.

  "Not a thing," Rusty replied, his eyes never leaving the glowing fire. "Is it ok if I watch some television for awhile," he asked hoping it would take his mind off Maureen. He could not understand this woman and knew she had felt something, he'd felt her respond to him, and her body trembling with desire, but if she wanted to pretend that there was nothing there, so be it.

  "Sure, go ahead. The television is in the den. I sent Lauren home because of the storm so if you get hungry help yourself in the kitchen." As she headed down the hall Christina wondered what had transpired between Maureen and Rusty. She had felt the tension as soon as she stepped into the room, and had seen Maureen's flushed face.

  "Well, how are they doing?" Andrew asked as Christina returned. He could tell by the puzzled look on her face that something was wrong.

  "I can't figure Maureen out. She looked like she was having such a good time with Rusty earlier, and now they’re hardly speaking to each other. "

  Andrew pulled Christina close and stroked her hair gently. "You know, they’re both bull headed and stubborn. They'll be fine. I think both of them know how to take care of themselves though, don't you?" he asked, still caressing her forehead.

  Christina snuggled closer into his arms and tried to forget about it. As the music played softly in the background Christina fell asleep in Andrews arms.

  The ringing of the phone awoke her as Andrew tried to answer it before it woke her. "Who is it?" she asked as she stretched her lean legs.

  "It was your friend Dianna making sure you had enough food and wood with the storm coming on," he replied.
"She said if you needed anything to give her a call as they had a four wheel drive and could get out if they needed to." "But I told her you were in good hands, that I'd be here, "he replied playfully.

  "Andrew you didn't," she exclaimed with a worried look on her face.

  "No I didn't say that, I'm just teasing."

  A sigh of relief came over Christina's face. Dianna loved to gossip and it wouldn't take her long to spread the news all over town. She didn’t want people to be talking about them as it hadn’t been long enough since the funeral.

  "There's nothing wrong with my being here. I care deeply for you Christina, you should know that by now. In fact, I’m in love with you. I know you feel like you’re betraying your husband, but remember he’s gone now. He would not want you to go through life mourning him. It’s all right to love again Christina."

  He leaned back on his elbows and studied her intently. He couldn’t believe how much he had come to love this woman. Soon he would be asking her to marry him, but the time was not right for that.

  "How about some coffee?" Christina asked pretending he hadn’t just told her he loved her. She wasn’t ready for that yet. She felt uncomfortable with his eyes searching hers.

  "I'd love some."

  "Be back in a jiff," she replied nervously as she headed towards the kitchen.

  When she came back with the coffee she stood for a moment, watching Andrew stare out the window. He was attractive and unscrupulous enough to take any woman he desired. Her heart beat rapidly as she took in his ruggedly handsome features.

  Just then he turned and caught her looking at him. "See how much snow we've gotten already," his eyes glowed ecstatically. "I have a feeling the weatherman was right about this one, don't you?"

  She looked out at the continuing snowfall. "Must be at least a foot deep already," she sipped her coffee. "We may be stuck here together for a week."

  "That would be fine with me," he wink. "I'm sure we could find plenty of things to do to keep busy."

  Christina blushed. The implications sent waves of excitement through her. She looked over at Andrew and saw the heart-rending tenderness of his gaze. In addition, as their eyes met he heart quivered with desire. The prolonged anticipation was almost unbearable.

  Andrew threw another log on the fire then sat down on the sofa. "I use to love to go sledding as a kid. We'd come in so cold and mom would always have a cup of hot chocolate and fresh baked cookies ready for us. Those were the days."

  "I agree winters are great." Christina replied as she sat down next to Andrew. “But I don't think we'll be going to any ball tonight. Not with all this snow. I think that's what’s wrong with Maureen. She had her heart set on going tonight," Christina sighed.

  "You mean she had her heart set on seducing some rich eligible bachelor and hoping to land him for a husband," Andrew replied with quiet emphasis. His voice was courteous but he had been around Maureen to know what she was really like. She was honest he had to admit in what she wanted in a man. In a way he was glad that she hadn't hit it off with Rusty. He didn't want to see him get hurt or used.

  Just then Rusty walked into the room. "Boy that's a lot of snow outside. The weatherman just issued a special statement saying we'd be in for a long night and that already there were some power outages around town due to the heavy wet snow falling on the power lines. Do you have candles or a lantern in case the power does go out here?" he asked.

  "Yes there's a gas lantern in the hall closet. Oh yeah, there's a camp stove down in the basement we used to use when we'd go camping."

  "Looks like we may need them both if this storm continues like it is now," Rusty headed for the closet to get things ready.

  "I'll get the stove," Andrew replied, deciding from the looks of things they'd better get ready, just in case the lights went out.

  Christina went to the kitchen and got a few things ready so they wouldn't have to search around later. She'd been caught in a blizzard once before and it was days before they had any power. But she and Tyler enjoyed the peacefulness of the storm as they laid in front of the roaring fire, keeping warm. A tear came to her eye for a moment. She still missed him terribly.

  "Where's everyone at?" Maureen asked as she waltzed into the room looking refreshed from her nap.

  "Getting things ready in case the lights go out. The snow's so wet and heavy lying on the power lines that some places already are without power," Christina replied.

  "Then we won't be going to the ball tonight, will we?" Maureen asked almost in tears. Christina felt sorry for her at that moment.

  "No, everything has been canceled for this evening. Sorry, I know how much you wanted to go. "

  Maureen looked out the window, amazed at the amount of snow that had fallen while she slept. There was a strange but tranquil quiet as nothing moved outside, no cars, no people, no nothing. It was a little eerie yet so beautiful. "Well at least we can watch TV," she said just as the lights started to flicker. "I sure hope you have a battery operated TV or radio," she asked tapping her foot nervously. "I can't stand it if there's nothing to do."

  "Oh come on now, Maureen, this could be a real adventure."

  "Well I for one don't like adventures," she replied haughtily.

  "Well you may not have much of a choice," Christina replied beginning to get a little annoyed with her kid sister.

  Suddenly the room fell dark. "OK guess it's time to light the candles and the gas lantern," she announced as she felt her way across the room. Just then Andrew walked in with the lantern.

  “I found a battery operated radio down in the cellar, do you have any batteries around here?" he asked.

  "If I have any they would be in the draw in the kitchen. Hand me a candle and I'll go and look," Christina replied anxiously. She shivered at the prospect of this snowstorm and being able to spend more time with Andrew.

  Alone in a dimly lit room with Andrew would be a dream come true, thought Maureen, if only he weren't such a stuffed shirt as the expression goes. She'd done everything in her power to allure and seduce him, but to no avail. He wouldn't budge an inch. Mr. true and faithful himself. However, it didn't keep her from trying...

  "Look I found a nine volt and a couple of c batteries in there. Well they work?" she asked softly as she sauntered over to Andrew.

  "Let me see, looks like this radio takes the nine volt." He put it in and turned it on. "Yep, it works. Now we can keep up with the news and see how everyone else is doing."

  "Who cares how everyone else is doing," declared Maureen angrily.

  "You might as well try and make the best of it, looks like it will this way for quite a while," Rusty muttered as he entered the room. "I myself find it quite intriguing to say the least. Just think of how it must have been years back when they didn't have televison or radio's or even lights. Everyone survived then. They learned to enjoy each other's company and to amuse themselves without all the gadgets we have now a days."

  "Are you through with your sermon?" Maureen asked "And I suppose people were better off back then, going to an outhouse in the middle of winter to. Really Rusty give me a break."

  Rusty sat down in the recliner next to the fireplace and folded his hands behind his head. He tilted his brow and looked at her uncertainly. She moved away, her jaw tightening. Taking a deep unsteady breath, she sat on the sofa away from him.

  "Coffee anyone?" Christina asked as she appeared with freshly brewed coffee.

  "How'd you fix that?" Maureen asked curiously. "We don't have any power."

  "I put it on just before the lights went out. Luckily for us it finished just in the nick of time. And besides, we have a camping stove and percolator so we can make coffee whenever we want it."

  "So what do we do now, sit here and twiddle our thumbs?" Maureen asked as she leaned back on the sofa.

  "Oh come off it, Maureen. Sit back and relax. Pouting won't do any good. Neither will your negative attitude. Just be thankful you’re in a warm house and we have plenty of food. I heard
on the news that some people are without any heat at all and it may be days before they get any. In addition, some have very little food and they can't even get out to the store. So consider yourself fortunate."

  "Yeah right," she murmured under her breath. She hated the way Christina was always so calm and cool know matter what the crisis, she would find something good in any given situation. She was afraid of her feelings for Rusty. There was no way she was going to fall in love with him and live in a tent, or an apartment. No, she would find her rich man and get married and have a house like Christina.

  Andrew put his arm on the back of the sofa, gently touching Christina's back. She leaned back on it and smiled softly up at him. The lantern gave off just enough light so that it wasn't total dark in the room. Rusty stood up and put another log on the fire.

  "At least it's warm in here and there's plenty of wood for quite a few days if we need it," he replied as he peered out the window once again. He was enjoying the calmness the storm had brought despite of Maureen's sulkiness. Somewhere inside her there had to be a heart, he thought as he folded his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, and he would find it.

  Maureen stood up and paced the floor momentarily as if to work off some of her frustrations. "Guess I might as well go on to bed," she remarked indignantly heading for the door.

  "You ought to get your blanket and sleep in here. I'd say the rest of the house will probably get pretty cold before the nights over," Andrew stated sharply.

  "I'll just turn on my electric blanket and I'll be fine," she answered quickly without thinking.

  "I don't think it will do any good without electricity," Christina laughed, not meaning to make fun of her.

  "Shit," Maureen stammered, embarrassed that she'd said something so stupid. "Guess you’re right, it won't work, will it," she exclaimed trying to hide her embarrassment. She was glad it was dark and no one could see her face turn red.